NNOOVVII SSAADD ON THE PALM OF YOUR HAND Welcome to Novi Sad, welcome to “Serbian Athens”, hospitable and beautiful city, where cheerful citizens welcome their guests with open hearts, honestly and in a friendly way. Novi Sad is the capital of the Autonomous Province of Vojvodina, its economic, cultural, scientific, educational, health and administrative center with nearly 200.000 inhabitants. The city is situated on the left bank of the Danube River in South Backa, in northern part of Serbia. Owing to its exceptional geographic and transportation position, it is a significant intersection of land and water traffic. It is located on transcontinental Euro-Asian transversal starting from western Europe, and leading across central Europe, to the Balkan Peninsula and Bosporus straits and all the way to Near East. Novi Sad is positioned in the length of 50 km on the Danube River, which is actually essential in transeuropean mega hydro system of rivers and canals (the Rhine-Main-Danube Rivers) for transportation, commerce, energy, and tourism. HISTORY At the end of 17th century, on a reef of Fruska gora mountain, on the right bank of the Danube, the construction of Petrovaradin Fortress started. Soon around the trench, a smallish settlement of tradesmen, fishermen, craftsmen and boatmen was formed. Meanwhile, by 1780, the largest military fortification of Austrian Empire “The Petrovaradin Fortress” – “The Gibraltar on the Danube” was completed. Parallel to the construction, the broadening of the settlement opposite the Fortress was evident. It was named with different names: Neoplanta, Ujvidégh, Neysatz and finally on February 1, 1748 it got the name of Novi Sad, when its inhabitants paid 95.000 forints to Vienna in order to obtain the status of a free royal city. Novi Sad is also called “Serbian Athens”, what is specially emphasized by its citizens. It is the city of education, culture, museums, galleries, libraries and theaters. In 1790 Emanuel Jankovic brought the first printing press and opened the bookshop according to European standard. Serbian Orthodox Great Grammar School (the second among the Serbs, after Karlovacka Grammar School, 1791) was founded in 1810. One of the teachers, Georgije Magarasevic, launched in 1824 a magazine “The Serbian Journal”, published nowadays under the name “The Matica srpska Journal” as the oldest “alive” literature journal in the world. In Novi Sad in 1861, Serbian National Theater, the oldest professional theater in Yugoslavia, was founded. Matica srpska, educational, cultural, and scientific institution was founded in 1826 in Budapest, and moved to Novi Sad in 1864. THE CITY CENTER The urban city center of the old Novi Sad, which comprises the Square of Liberty, Zmaj Jovina and Dunavska Street, is versatile and attractive area with unique components, found only in this part of the city. Cultural and historical development of Novi Sad contributed to formation of architectural tourist values, which form complex units of monumental and artistic character. The area of the Square of Liberty originated in 18th century and the surrounding objects, with different stylistic features, date back to the first half of 19th and the beginning of 20th century. At the square there is a monumental statue of Svetozar Miletic (1826-1901), who had an important role in fighting for the freedom of Serbian people at the turning point from feudalism to capitalism. He was also the Mayor of Novi Sad, a poet and a freedom fighter. The square is the gathering place for the citizens and the site where numerous manifestations take place. At the Square of Liberty there are many monumental and significant buildings, but a special value deserves The City Hall, old building of Municipal Assembly, built in neo- renaissance style by the project of Molnár György in 1895, resembling the City Hall in Graz. The high tower, formerly used by fire brigade for observations, dominates the principal façade. The interior is simple, intended for business, except the ornamented main auditorium on the first floor. The auditorium is well known to the citizens of Novi Sad because that is where numerous celebrations, concerts of classical music and book promotions take place. The City Hall is declared the monument of culture. The largest number of the values is concentrated in the central, old city part (Zmaj Jovina St. and Dunavska St.), today forming a unique ambience from which traffic was banned. Recognizable features of this part of the city are the buildings built in 18th and 19th century. The oldest building in the city is White Lion’s House, built at the corner of Zmaj Jovina St. and Dunavska St. in 1720. Worth mentioning are also the following buildings: Museum of Vojvodina (built in 1900, formerly the Court in Dunavska St.), Grand Hotel “Mayer“ (today Vojvodjanska Bank at the Square of Liberty), Tanurdzic’s Palace (residential and business building, built in 1933-34), Grammar School “Jovan Jovanovic Zmaj” (built in 1910, by the project of Vladimir Nikolic), Bishop’s Palace of Backa Eparchy (with elements of Serbian, Byzantine and Mavar style from 1901), The Old Central Credit Bank (built in 1895 in late academicism style of 19th century) and Matica srpska (built in 1912 by the project of Momcilo Tapavica). “Plebanija” in Catholic churchyard was built in 1808 and today represents a rare monument of old architecture. When entering the city from Varadinski Bridge, two buildings are perceived: first, Workers’ House (built in 1913 by the project of Dragisa Brasovan, with the statue of a worker at the front, carved by Toma Roksandic), and then Province Government and Assembly (formerly Civil Governor’s House, having the characteristics of monumental building, built between 1936 and 1939, by the project of Dragisa Brasovan too. Its exterior is covered in marble from the Croatian island of Brac, whereas the central hall and staircase are covered in Italian stone from Carara. Its interior consists of wide corridors from which large business premises are entered). The Home of Culture, formerly the house of Serbian National Theater until it got its own building, was built according to the project of Djordje Tabakovic in 1938. Today it is the house of Youth Theater and Toy Theater. However, an important component of monumental values of the city are the buildings and complexes built in modern time: Serbian National Theater building (by the project of Victor Jackijevic, a polish architect), Sports and Business Center Vojvodina (an attractive complex made of metal, glass, concrete and marble covering the area of 65.000m2 for sports and recreation activities: tennis, swimming pools, ice-rink, Large Hall for 10.000 spectators, Small Hall for 1.200 spectators and additional 20 hectares where the stadium of FC Vojvodina was built), Central Post Office, Railway Station Building (built in 1964 by the project of Imre Farkas), NIS headquarters (completed in 1998 by the project of Aleksandar Kekovic) and etc. CHURCHES There are several churches in the city, famous for their monumental value, architecture, valuable interior and collections of artistic and historical importance. Fast economic, cultural and educational progress with national, religious and language variety in the background influenced building of different churches in Novi Sad, for it was the religious center, too. According to tradition, the first Orthodox Church of Saint George dates back to 1700. Since 1708 in Novi Sad (“Trench” at that time) has been the seat of Backa’ Bishop. The first stone and brick made Saborna Church was built in the 18th century (1742) during the reign of queen Maria Teresa, but today’s appearance it got by the project of Mihail Harminac, an architect from Budapest in 1902-1905, while Mitrofan Sevic was the Bishop). Iconostasis was made by a famous Serbian painter Paja Jovanovic in Vienna, and wall compositions were made by Stevan Aleksic, whereas the stained glass windows were done by Imre Zeler from Budapest. All the present Orthodox churches in the city were built by 1748: Saborna with Bishop’s Palace, Almaska, Uspenska and Nikolajevska. The last one, the temple of relics of Saint Father Nikolaj, was the only that preserved its basic look and it is considered the oldest Orthodox church in the city. It was built in 1730 in baroque style. After it had been damaged during bombing in 1849 it was renewed by donations of Jovan and Marija Trandafil who were later buried there. Iconostasis was made by Pavle Simic in 1862 with the influence of Nazarene painting. It is an interesting fact that the sons of Mileva and Albert Einstein, Albert and Edward were baptized in this church in 1913. Uspenska Church is the temple of Holy Mother of God Assumption built in baroque style in 1736 and renewed several times. It got its present looks in about 1780. Special features of this temple are the iconostasis and its carvings, then the carvings of the Mother of God throne, Archpriest’s throne and church’s furniture carved by the Gavrilovic family. Almaska Church, with classical baroque portal carved in wood by Aksentije Markovic, was built in 1797. The bell tower is on the west, and façades are ornamented as well as the interior. The icons were done by Arsenije Teodorovic in 1825, who was buried in the churchyard. Of special value is the icon of the Holy Mother of God, the work of Uros Predic, a painter in 1905. Roman Catholic Church “The Name of Mary” dominates the city center and the Square of Liberty. It was built in 19th century, 1894 in neo-gothic style, by the project of Molnár György, whose bust is situated in the church next to the door in a niche. The church is a three-nave building, with gothic arches, supported by thin and tall pillars.